Push button switch assembly with slidable interlocking means preventing simultaneous operation of two or more pushbuttons

ABSTRACT

A switch assembly with a housing having fixed contacts, push button means reciprocable within the housing, movable contact means disposed within the push button actuator means and slide transfer motion means disposed between adjacent push button actuator means to prevent operation of more than one push button at a time.

United States Patent [1 1 Gross 1 Dec. 18, 1973 PUSH BUTTON SWITCHASSEMBLY WITH SLIDABLE INTERLOCKING MEANS PREVENTING SIMULTANEOUSOPERATION OF TWO OR MORE PUSIIBUTTONS Inventor: Wayne B. Gross,Glastonbury,

Conn.

Assignee: General Signal Corporation, Rochester, NY.

Filed: May 18, 1971 Appl. No.: 144,553

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 867,325,Oct, 17, 1969, abandoned.

US. Cl. 200/5 EA, 200/5 E Int. Cl. H0lh 9/26 Field of Search 200/5 E, 5EA, 61.19,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,476,890 11/1969 Powell200/5 EA 3,487,177 12/1969 Shea 200/5 EA FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS603,924 6/1948 Great Britain 200/5 EA Primary Examiner.l. R. ScottAtlornyl-larold S. Wynn et al.

57 ABSTRACT A switch assembly with a housing having fixed contacts, pushbutton means reciprocable within the housing, movable contact meansdisposed within the push button actuator means and slide transfer motionmeans disposed between adjacent push button actuator means to preventoperation of more than one push button at a time.

12 Claims, 24 Drawing Figures 4L 2, a 22E PMENIEDDEBI a ma SHEET 2 0F 4A T TOR/VEYS PUSH BUTTON SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH SLIDABLE INTERLOCKINGMEANS PREVENTING SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION OF TWO OR MORE PUSHBUTTONS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 867,325,filed Oct. 17, 1969, now abandoned.

This invention generally relates to electrical switches and particularlyconcerns a push button switch assembly comprising multiple electricalswitches with push button controls to selectively make and break aplurality of electrical circuits.

Multiple push button switch assemblies of the type herein concerned havelong been known to the art and generally operate in a fashion such thatwhen one push maintenance such as lubrication of the sliding bar membersis normally required so as to facilitate smooth operation. Furthermore,the manufacture and assembly of such prior-art multiple switches isquite expensive and time-consuming and requires precision machiningtechniques. In the event of a malfunction of a component part duringuse, disassembly and repair thereof cannot easily be undertaken, thuscreating a situation in which the switches must be prematurely replacedas a unit.

Another type of prior-art switch assembly utilizes a pluralityindividual slider members formed with cam surfaces that cooperate withcomplementary cam surfaces formed on the push buttons. When one of thepush buttons is depressed, the cam surfaces cause lateral movement ofthe slider associated with the depressed push button. Movement of theslider will cause movement of any previously depressed push button toits off position by either moving that push button directly or by movingother sliders located between the push button being depressed and thatpreviously depressed. The number of sliders moving laterally depends onthe location of the push button being depressed and that previouslydepressed.

Switch assemblies of the type utilizing a plurality of sliders have,prior to this invention, been relatively expensive to manufacture. Themanufacturing expense results from the fact that inthese previouslyknown switch assemblies, the push buttons have been guided during theirmovement by their associated sliders. Since a plurality of sliders areutilized, the size variations of the individual sliders, due to thetolerance limits, can cause a misalignment of the push buttons. Thus,unless the slider tolerances are extremely close, the push buttons cancock and bind during movement. Manufacturing techniques involving closetolerances are, of course, relatively expensive.

Thus, a need exists in the art for a multiple push button switchassembly which avoids the drawbacks of prior-art assemblies discussedabove. It is the primary object of the instant invention to satisfy thisneed with a switch assembly operative and constructed in an ontirelynovel fashion. Further, more specific, yet equally important objects ofthe instant invention are:

The provision of a push button switch assembly which is extremely simplein construction; I

The provision of a push button switch assembly which requires nolubrication;

The provision of a push button switch assembly which can be manufacturedat low cost and with relatively low precision techniques;

The provision of a push button switch assembly which can easily bedisassembled for repair of components parts thereof;

The provision of a push button switch assembly which affords positiveaction in that when one push button is depressed, a previously depressedbutton is always raised;

The provision of a push button switch assembly wherein good electricalcontact is always made when a push button is depressed;

The provision of a push button switch assembly in which complex slidingcam and bar members are eliminated; and, I

The provision of a push button switch assembly which is not readilysubject to jamming.

These objects as well as other objects which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, are implemented by the instant inventive switchwhich is characterized by a unique cooperation between a plurality ofpush button means disposed for reciprocating movement in a housing and aplurality of individual discrete slide transfer means retained forlateral movement in the housing beneath the push button means, the slidetransfer means insuring that only a single push button is in anactivated condition at any one time.

Specifically, a plurality of aligned push button means are disposed in ahousing adjacent an electrical contact board means in which are includeda plurality of electrical terminals. Each push button means preferablycomprises a body member disposed inside the housing, leg means extendingoutside the housing through apertures therein, and a downwardlyextending lip means of a given shape, preferably triangular, whichdefines a first camming surface; The push button means are adapted toeffect a vertical reciprocating movement in a plane parallel to theplane of the contact board between a first or rest position and a secondor depressed position, each of the push button means selectively makingand breaking a circuit between respective electrical terminal pairs onthe electrical contact board means during reciprocation and being guidedduring its movement by the action of the leg means and the apertures.

A plurality of individual, discrete slide transfer means which cooperatewith the push button means in a novel fashion discussed hereinbelow, aredisposed in a bottom portion of the housing in a longitudinallyextending channel thereof beneath the plurality of push button means. Inthe preferred inventive embodiment, the slide transfer means compriseindividual rectangular blocks having a triangularly shaped upperextending portion which defines a second camming surface shapedcomplementary to the first camming surface of the push button means.Each of the rectangular blocks are aligned in side-by-side relationshipin the longitudinal channel of the housing whereby such individualblocks can undergo lateral movement. importantly, the disposition of theslide transfer means with respect to the push button means is such thatthe triangularly shaped lip means of thepush button means and the upperextending triangularly shaped portions of the individual rectangularblocks define a common plane. Yet, the apex of each of the triangularlyshaped lip means of the push buttons and the apex of the triangularlyshaped extending portions of the slide transfer means or rectangularblocks are laterally offset with re spect to one another.

Now, if a single push button means is displaced or depressed from itsfirst position into the second position, the first camming means definedby the triangularly shaped lower depending lip portion would contact asecond camming surface defined by the triangularly shaped upperextending portion of a slide transfer means directly below and, withwedge-like action, would effect lateral movement of the slide transfermeans within the longitudinally extending channel of the housing. Inmost instances, the lateral movement of this one slide transfer meanswould be imparted to other slide transfer means due to the side-by-sidealignment of all the slide transfer means within the housing channel. Ifanother push button means had previously been displaced or depressedfrom its first into its second position, the second cam'ming surface ofa moving slide transfer means would contact the first camming surface ofthe previously depressed push button means, and, with a reversewedge-like action, would effect a reciprocal displacement of thepreviously depressed push button means from its second position backinto its first position. Accordingly, the operation of the inventivedevice is such that only one push button means can be disposed in thesecond position at any given time.

The invention itself will be better understood and further features andadvantages thereof will become readily apparent from the followingdetailed description of a preferred inventive embodiment, suchdescription making reference to the appended sheets of drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective illustration of the novel push buttonswitch assembly of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a rear elevational view of an electrical contact boardutilized in the switch assembly;

FIG. 3 depicts a front elevational view of the electrical contact board;

FIG. 4 depicts a top plan view of the upper casing of the housing of theinventive switch assembly;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the upper casing of FIG. 4 taken alonglines II;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the upper casing of the housing;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the upper casing of the housing depictedin FIG. 6 taken along lines lI-II;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the upper casing of the housing of thenovel switch assembly;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a slide transfer means of the instantinvention;'

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the slide transfer means depicted in FIG.9 taken along lines lIl-III;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the lower casing of the housing of thenovel switch assembly;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the lower casing of the housing;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the lower casing depicted in FIG. 12taken along lines lV-IV;

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the push button means utilizedwith the novel switch assembly;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view, partially broken away forillustrative clarity, of the push button means of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective illustration of a spring utilized with the pushbutton means of FIGS. 14 and 15;

FIG. 17 is an elevational view of a spacer member utilized between setsof push button means of the novel switching assembly;

FIG. 18 is a side view of an electrical contact utilized in conjunctionwith the spring of FIG. 16 and the push button means of FIGS. 14 and 15;

FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of the electrical contact of FIG.18;

FIG. 20 is an elevational view, with parts shown in dotted lines forillustrative clarity, of the overall inventive switch assembly depictingits novel operation;

FIG. 21 is an elevational view, with parts omitted for the sake ofclarity, of a modified embodiment of a push button switch assembly inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the push button utilized in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken along the line 2323 of FIG. 21; and,

FIG. 24 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 24-24 of FIG. 23.

Describing now the drawings, particular attention should be given toFIG. I wherein an exploded overall view of the novel push button switchassembly of the instant invention is depicted. The assembly can be seento comprise a housing which generally includes an elongated upper casing22 and an elongated lower casing 24, the casings being adapted to matein juxtaposed relationship with one another along confronting surfaces26 and 28, respectively. For purposes of maintaining the upper casing 22and the lower casing 24 in an aligned mating relationship, a pluralityof throughbores 30 are provided in both sides of each casing throughwhich dowels generally designated 32 are inserted.

As best seen in FIGS.'4 through 8, the upper casing member 22 of thehousing is provided with a plurality of apertures 34 through the topsurface 36 thereof, apertures 34 preferably though not necessarily beingof rectangular shape. Side walls 38 depend from the top surface 36 suchthat the upper casing 22 defines a generally hollowed-out elongatedbody, with a cut-away portion generally designated 40 provided in one ofthe lengthwise sides thereof. A groove or channel member 42 as is bestseen in FIGS. 5 and 7, is provided on the underside of the top surface36 adjacent the cut-away portion 40 for purposes which will be discussedhereinbelow. Upper housing or casing 22 is constructed of anelectrically insulating material and preferably of a plastic such aspolycarbonate.

The lower housing or casing 24 is also constructed of an electricallyinsulating material such as polycarbonate and includes side wallportions 42 such that the lower housing or casing 24 also comprises agenerally hollowed-out elongated body with a cut-away portion 44 beingprovided through one of the lengthwise side walls 42 thereof. Thedimensions of the cut-out or cutaway portion 44 correspond to thedimensions of the cut-out portion 40 of the upper housing 22 such thatwhen both casings 22 and 24 are juxtaposed to form the over-all housing,a rectangular window results. As best seen in FIGS. l1, l2 and 13, thebottom of the lower casing comprises two longitudinally extendingchannels 46 and 48 separated by a stepped intermediate portion 50 and52. The disposition of the channels is such that when the upper casing22 and the lower casing 24 are placed in juxtaposition or matingrelationship with respect to one another, channel 46 in the lower casing24 is vertically aligned with channel 42 of the upper casing 22.

A plurality of individual, distinct slide transfer means generallydesignated 56 as depicted in FIGS. 1, 9 and 10, is disposed in thelongitudinally extending channel or groove 48 within the lower casing24. Each of the slide transfer means 56 is aligned in the channel 48adjacent one another in a side-by-side relationship. In the preferredconstruction, each of the slide transfer means 56 preferably comprisesan individual rectangular block 58 having a triangularly shaped upperextending portion 60 which defines a camming surface as will bediscussed hereinbelow. The slide transfer means are preferablymanufactured from nylon and, as best seen in the sectional view of FIG.10, each slide transfer means 56 has a thin central region 62 and athicker rib portion 64 about the periphery thereof. The width of thethicker rib portion 64 is adapted to be approximately the same width asis the longitudinally extending channel or groove 48 within the lowercasing 24. Each of the slide transfer means 56, when disposed in thelongitudinally extending groove 48, can undergo lateral movement eitherto the right or the left, either individually or in groups, as thelength of the longitudinally extending channel 48 is selected to beslightly longer than the cumulative lengths of all of the slide transfermeans 56 disposed therein whereby a free space always appears somewherealong the channel length.

A plurality of push button means generally designated 66 and preferablyconstructed of plastic material are also provided within upper and lowercasings 22 and 24, respectively, comprising the housing. As depicted inFIGS. 14 and 15, as well as in FIG. 1, each of the push button means 66comprise a body member 58 which is disposed internally of the uppercasing 22 of the housing and an upwardly extending leg portion 70adapted to fit through apertures 34 in the upper casing 22 so as toprotrude out therefrom. A lower depending lip means is provided on thebody member 68 and preferably is disposed towards the rear of such bodymember 68 as illustrated in FIG. 15. Lower depending lip means 72preferably has a triangular shape and thus defines a camming surfacecomplementary in shape with respect to the camming surface defined bythe upper extending portion 60 of the slide transfer means. Acountersunk bore 74 is provided toward the front of the body member 68of each push button means 66 in which a spring 76 as depicted in FIG.16, is inserted as is an electrical contact generally designated 78having a circular face portion 80 and an extending shaft 82 such asdepicted in FIGS. 18 and 19, such that the shaft 82 of the electricalcontact fits within the spring 76 to thus form a spring-loadedelectrical contact means on each of the push button means 66.

Each of the push button means 66, when inserted through the apertures 34of the upper housing or casing 22, as described, are in an aligned,side-by-side relationship and can undergo vertical reciprocatingmovement between a first extended position and a second depressedposition, as will be discussed hereinbelow. A spacer element 84 asdepicted in FIGS. 1 and I7 is preferably provided between two of thepush button means 66 as illustrated so as to aid in the verticalalignment thereof.

Finally, the novel switch assembly can be seen to include an electricalcontact board generally designated 88 as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.The external or outside of contact board 88 contains a plurality ofelectrical connecting posts 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100 to which externalcircuit connections can be made whereas the inside or interior of theelectrical contact board means 88 contains electrical contacts 90', 92',94', 96, 98', 100' respectively associated with the electrical terminalsof the same number. Importantly, a plurality of electrical terminal orcontact pairs 9096, 92-98, 94'-l00 are defined by the contact boardmeans 88. The contact board means 88 is adapted to fit within thewindow" defined by the cut-away or cut-out sections 40 and 44 of theupper and lower casings 22 and 24, respectively, within the respectgrooves or channels 42 and 46. Thus, the contact board means defines oneside of the housing and lies within a plane parallel to the verticalplane of displacement of the push button means 66 such that when arespective push button means 66 is depressed from its first positioninto its second position, the spring-loaded contact terminals or members78 thereof serve to complete or bridge A circuit between respectivecontact terminal pairs on the contact board means.

Referring now to FIG. 20, the novel mode of operation of the inventivepush button switch assembly will be described. It should initially benoted that the triangularly shaped lip means 72 of the push button means66 are disposed directly above the triangularly shaped upper extendingportions 60 of the slide member means 56 with the lip means and'theextending portions defining a common vertical plane. Further, it shouldbe noted that the apex of each of the triangularly shaped lip means 72and the apex of each of the triangularly shaped extending portions 60are laterally offset with respect to one another.

Now, let it be assumed that a push button means 102 had initially beendepressed from its first into its second position and then, push buttonmeans 100 is subsequently depressed from its first into its secondposition as depicted in FIG. 20. As push button means 100 is depressed,an electrical circuit will be completed between a given pair of contactterminals on the contact board means 88 since the spring-loaded contact78 on the push button means 100 serves to bridge the gap between suchgiven contact terminal pair. In its second position, the underside ofthe body portion or member 68 of push button means 100 abuts against thestep 52 of the lower casing 24 as best depicted in FIG. l3.

The novel interaction between the lower depending lip means 72 of pushbutton means 100 and the slide transfer means 56 disposed in the channel48 of the lower casing 24 as push button means 100 is displaced from itsfirst into its second position, is such as to ensure, in a simple yeteffective manner, that only one push button means can be disposed in thesecond position at any one time. As mentioned above, the lower dependinglip means 72 of push button means 100 defines a first camming surface inthat each side of the triangularly-shaped lip means 72 forms a wedge. Bythe same token, the upper extending portions 60 of each of the slidetransfer means 56 define a second camming surface having a shapecomplementary to the shape of the first camming surface. Now, as pushbutton means 100 is depressed, the depending lip means defining thefirst camming surface makes contact with the upper extending portion ofindividual slide transfer means 56 and 56", such upper extendingportions defining the second camming surface. Such contact between thetwo camming surfaces effects, in a wedge-like manner, lateral movementof slide transfer means 56' and 56" to the left and to the right of FIG.20, respectively. The remainder of the slide transfer means 56 disposedto the right of slide transfer means 56" will also be later-- ally movedtoward the right whereas the remainder of the slide transfer means 56disposed to the left of slide transfer means 56' will likewise also bemoved towards the left, due to the adjacent side-by-side relationshipbetween the individual slide transfer means 56 disposed in channel orgroove 48. Accordingly, slide transfer means 56" is also laterallydisplaced towards the left in FIG. 20. As the second camming surface ofslide transfer means 56" contacts the first camming surface defined bythe lower depending lip means of push button 102, a reciprocaldisplacement of push button 102 from its previously depressed secondposition back into its illustrated first position is effected also dueto the wedge-like action of the complementary shaped triangular cammingsurfaces. The end result is that substantially simultaneously with thedepression of push button 100, previously depressed push button 102 israised back into its initial or rest position. In a similar manner, hadany other of the push button means 66 been depressed, such push buttonmeans would have been raised through the lateral movement of one of theslide transfer means 56 disposed-therebeneath. Of course, if one of thepush button means disposed at the ends of the housing is depressed, thenall of the slide transfer means 56 would be laterally displaced in onedirection only. Yet, the interaction between the slide transfer meansand a previously depressed push button remains the same. When apreviously depressed push button is reciprocally displaced or raisedback into its first position, the electrical circuit made by thespring-loaded contact 78 of the push button between two contact pairs ofthe contact board means 88, would be broken. As should also be apparent,jamming of the novel push button switch assembly cannot occur since iftwo or more push button means 66 are depressed at the same time, none ofthe push button means could be displaced into the second position sincelateral movement of the underlying slide transfer means would beprecluded.

Referring now to FIGS. 21 through 24, there is depicted anotherembodiment of a push button switch assembly in accordance with thisinvention. This embodiment comprises a housing 110 in which is carried aplurality of push button means 112 movable between a first position anda second position, and a plurality of movable slide transfer means 114.The slide transfer means and the push button means cooperate in such away that only one push button means can be in the second position at aparticular time. As will be more fully described hereinafter, movementof the push button means is guided by its cooperation with a portion ofthe housing so that axial and rotational misalignment or binding of thepush button means is prevented. Part of the housing includes a contactboard means 116 that cooperates with an electrical contact means 118carried by each of the push button means to selectively make and breakan electrical circuit.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, housing includes a baseportion 120, upstanding longitudinal side walls 122 and 124, andupstanding transverse side walls 126 and 128 that connect thelongitudinal side walls. A plurality of apertures 130 are formed inlongitudinal side wall 122 and are aligned with a plurality of apertures131 formed in longitudinal side wall 124. As best seen in FIG. 23,apertures 130 extend through substantially the entire depth oflongitudinal side wall 122 and apertures 131 extend through only aportion of the depth of longitudinal side wall 124. Apertures 130 and131 cooperate with push button means 112 in a manner to be describedhereinafter to guide movement of the push button means. Removablysecured to the free edges of walls 122-128 and in parallel relationshipto base portion 120 is a face member 132 on which is carried contactmeans 116. Similar to the particular embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1-20, contact means 116 includes terminal posts 134and electrical contacts 136. Terminals posts 134 are adapted to beconnected to an external electrical circuit and contacts 136 are adaptedto cooperate with push button means 112 to selectively make or break acircuit. I

Each of the slide transfer means 114 is carried in the housing andincludes a flat portion 138 an edge of which bears along longitudinalside wall 124. A triangular section is formed on base portion 138 andprovides camming surfaces 140 in a manner similar to that disclosed inthe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 20 of the drawing. Alsosimilar to the arrangement illustrated in the FIGS. 1 through 20embodiment of the invention, the cumulative length of all of the slidetransfer means is less than the distance between transverse wallportions 126 and 128 whereby a free space always appears somewhere alonglongitudinal side wall 124. Thus, the slider members are able to movelaterally along longitudinal side wall 124.

As best seen in FIG. 22, each push button means 112 comprises a centralbody portion 142, a frist leg portion 144 and a second leg portion 146.Leg portions 144 and 146 extend axially from opposite ends of bodyportion 142 and have a reduced width relative to the body portion sothat shoulders 145 are formed at the intersection of leg portion 144 andthe body portion and shoulders 147 are formed at the intersection of legportion 146 and the body portion. In addition, leg portion 146 hasreduced depth relative to body portion 142 equal to the depth ofaperture 131. The push button means are carried in housing 110 with bodyportions 142 being contained wholly within the space betweenlongitudinal side wall portions 122 and 124, and with leg portions 144projecting through apertures 130 in longitudinal side wall 122. As bestseen in FIG. 22, since leg portions 146 are of a reduced thickness, theyoverlie their associated slider mechanisms 114 and project throughapertures 131 in longitudinal side wall 124. With reference to FIG. 21of the drawing, it can be seen that the length of body portion 142 isless than the distance between longitudinal side walls 122 and 124 sothat the push buttons are movable between a first position whereinshoulders 145 abut longitudinal side wall 122 and a second or depressedposition wherein shoulders 147 abut longitudinal side wall 124. Theshoulders and side walls provide a stop means that limits the movementof the push button means. By the interaction between the leg portionsand their associated apertures, movement of the push button means isguided so that axial and rotational misalignment are prevented. Sincethe legs and apertures provide the guiding function during the movementof the push button means, slider means 114 need not be manufactured withsuch close tolerances since they perform no guiding function for themovement of the push buttons. Thus, the cumulative size deviations amongthe individual sliders will not affect the alignment of the push buttonmeans. in this way, misalignment problems are eliminated and themanufacturing cost of the push button switch assembly is significantlyreduced.

Formed at the end of the body portion 142 and adjacent leg portion 146,there is a triangular-shaped portion 148 that performs the eammingfunction described with respect to the push button means described inthe embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 20. Asnoted in that description, the eamming means on the push button meansand the eamming means on the slider members cooperate to assure thatonly one push button means can be located in the second position at anytime. As best seen in FIG. 23, contact means 118 carried in body portion142 is also similar to that described in the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the FIGS. 1 through in that it comprises a spring urgedcontact located in a bore formed in body portion 142. When a push buttonmeans is in its second position, contact means 118 carried by thatparticular push button will engage contacts 136 on face number 116 tocomplete an electrical circuit. When a push button means is in the firstposition, obviously no circuit is connected.

Operation of the push button switch assembly illustrated in FIGS. 21through 24 is similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 20. Thatis, movement of a particular push button means 112 from the firstposition to the second or depressed position is effected by pushing onthe free end of leg portion 144. Cam surfaces 148 on the push buttonmeans being depressed cooperate with cam surfaces 140 on the associatedslider member to cause lateral movement of that slider member. Thislateral movement, in turn, effects reciprocal movement of another pushbutton means from its second position to its first position in a mannersimilar to that described with respect to the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 20. Thus, only one push buttonmeans can be depressed at any particular time.

As should now be apparent, the objects set forth at the outset of thespecification have been successfully achieved.

What is claimed is:

1. A push button switch assembly comprising a housing having a pluralityof aligned apertures in one side thereof; contact board means in saidhousing defining a plurality of electrical terminals; a plurality ofaligned push button means disposed on said housing adjacent said contactboard means for vertical reciprocating movement between a first positionand a second position, each said push button means and contact meansselectively making and breaking a circuit between respective electricalterminal pairs, each said push button means comprising a body memberdisposed internally of said housing and a leg member disposed outsidesaid housing and extending upwardly through a respective housingaperture, said leg member and said aperture defining means forpreventing rotational and axial misalignment of said push button meansin said housing, each said push button means further including a lowerdepending lip means which defines a first eamming surface; and aplurality of individual discrete slide transfer means disposed in a lineadjacent to one another in said housing beneath said push button means,each of said slide transfer means including an upper extending portiondefining a second eamming surface having a shape complementary to saidfirst eamming surface, said first eamming surfaces of said push buttonmeans contacting said second eamming surface of a slide transfer meansand effecting lateral movement thereof when a push button means isdisplaced from said first position to said second position, said secondeamming surface of a slide transfer means contacting said first eammingsurface of other push button means and effecting reciprocal displacementthereof when said slide transfer means is moving laterally, whereby onlyone push button means can be disposed in said second position at anygiven time.

2. A push button assembly comprising: a housing; contact board means insaid housing defining a plurality of electrical terminals; a pluralityof aligned push button means disposed in said housing adjacent saidcontact board means for vertical reciprocal movement between a firstposition and a second position, each of said push button means andcontact means selectively making and breaking a circuit betweenrespective electrical terminal pairs, a raised step means disposedinternally of said housing, said step means delimiting travel of saidpush button means when said push button means are in said secondposition and thereby defining a stop means therefor; each said pushbutton means including a surface portion cooperably disposed withrespect to said raised step means; a plurality of individually discreteslide transfer means disposed in a line adjacent to one another in saidhousing beneath said push button means, said slide transfer meansundergoing lateral movement when a single push button means is displacedfrom said first position to said second position, said lateral movementeffecting reciprocal displacement of another single push button meansfrom said second position to said first position, whereby only one pushbutton means can be disposed in said second position at any given time.

3. A push button switch assembly comprising: a housing; a planar contactboard means defining one side of said housing and including a pluralityof electrical terminals; a plurality of aligned push button meansdisposed in said housing adjacent to said contact board means forvertical reciprocating movement between a first position and a secondposition, said push button means comprising a body member disposedinternally of said housing and an upwardly extending leg portiondisposed outside said housing, said extending leg portion and said bodyportion of each said push button means defining a common vertical planeparallel to the plane of said contact board means, said push buttonmeans including spring-loading contact plates on said body membersthereof for selectively making and breaking a circuit between respectiveelectrical terminal pairs of said electrical contact board means; and aplurality of individual discrete slide transfer means disposed in a lineadjacent toone another in said housing beneath said push button means,said slide transfer means undergoing lateral movement when a single pushbutton means is displaced from said first position to said secondposition, said lateral movement effecting reciprocal displacement ofanother single push button means from said second position to said firstposition, whereby only one push button means can be disposed in saidsecond position at any given time.

4. A switch as defined in claim 3, wherein said housing comprises topand bottom removable casings.

5. A push button switch assembly having a plurality of push buttonsdisposed for vertical reciprocating movement between a raised positionand a depressed position within a housing having a plurality ofapertures in one side thereof, each said push button including a bodymember disposed within said housing, and a leg member extending upwardlythrough a respective housing aperture, the shape of said leg member andsaid housing aperture defining means for preventing rotational and axialmisalignment of said push button; said body portion of each push buttondefining first camming surface means; and a plurality of individualblocks disposed for lateral displacement beneath the push buttons, eachblock including a second camming surface for cooperative interaction ina wedge-like manner with said first camming surface means of said pushbuttons to transfer vertical movement of one push button from its raisedposition to its depressed position into lateral displacement of saidblocks, said lateral displacement, in turn, effecting vertical movementof any other depressed push button from its depressed position into itsraised position, whereby only one push button can be disposed in adepressed position at any given time; said housing further including araised step portion therein defining a stop means for each of said pushbutton means when said push button means are in said depressedpositions; and a contact board means defining one side of said housingand incorporating a plurality of electrical terminals; said push buttonmeans in-- cluding spring-loading contact plates on said body membersthereof for selectively making and breaking circuits between saidrespective electrical terminal pairs of said contact board means.

6. A push button switch assembly comprising a housing having a pluralityof aligned apertures in one side thereof; contact means carried on saidhousing and defining a plurality of electrical terminals; a plurality ofaligned push button means disposed in said housing adjacnet said contactmeans for reciprocating movement between a first position and a secondposition, each said push button means and control means selectivelymaking and breaking a circuit between respective electrical terminalpairs, each said push button means comprising a body member disposedinternally of said housing and a leg member disposed outside saidhousing and extending through a respective housing aperture, said legmember and said aperture providing means for preventing rotational andaxial misalignment of said push button means in said housing, ach saidpush button means further including a depending portion which defines afirst camming surface means; and a plurality of individual discreteslide transfer means disposed in side-by-side relationship in saidhousing adjacent said push button means, each of said slide transfermeans including a projecting portion defining a second camming surfacemeans having a shape complementary to said first camming surface means,said first camming surface means of said push button means contactingsaid second camming surface means of said slide transfer means, movementof one of said push button means from said first positions to saidsecond position causing at least one of said slide transfer means tomove laterally, lateral movement of said slide transfer means causingany other push button means in said second position to move to saidfirst position, whereby only one push button means can be disposed insaid second position at any given time.

7. A push button switch assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein saidhousing includes a plurality of aligned apertures in the side oppositesaid one side thereof and wherein said push button means includesanother leg member projecting from said body member and projectingthrough a respective aperture in said side opposite said one side ofsaid-housing.

8. A push button switch assembly comprising: a housing; contact meanscarried one side of said housing and including a plurality of electricalterminals; a plurality of aligned pushbutton means disposed in saidhousing adjacent to said contact means for reciprocating movementbetween a first position and a second position, each of said push buttonmeans comprising a body member disposed internally of said housing and apair leg portions each extending from opposite ends of said bodyposition and disposed outside said housing, said extending leg portionsand said body portion of each said push button means defining a commonplane parallel to the plane of said contact means, said push buttonmeans including spring-loaded contact plates on said body membersthereof for selectively making and breaking a circuit between respectiveelectrical terminal pairs of said contact means; and a pluarlity ofindividual discrete slide transfer means disposed in side-bysiderelationship in said housing adjacent said push button means, at leastone of said slide transfer means undergoing lateral movement when asingle push button means is displaced from said first position to saidsecond position, said lateral movement effecting reciprocal displacementof another single push button means from said second position to saidfirst position, whereby only one push button means can be disposed insaid second position at any given time.

9. A push button switch assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein stopmeans are provided to limit the movement of said push button means tosaid first and second position.

10. A push button switch assembly comprising: a housing; contact meanscarried on said housing a plurality of aligned push button meansdisposed in said housing for reciprocating movement between a firstposition and a second position, said push button means comprising a bodymember disposed internally of said housing and guide means extendingfrom each end of said body member to guide the movement of said pushbutton means from said first position to said second position, said pushbutton means also including contact means that cooperate with saidcontact means on said housing to selectively make and break anelectrical circuit; and a plurality of individual discrete slidetransfer means disposed in side-by-side relationship in said portionsextending through apertures in said housing.

12. A push button switch assembly of the type including a plurality ofpush button means carried in a housing, each of said push button meansbeing manually movable between a first position and a second positionwhere it completes an electrical circuit, and means within said housingfor moving a push button means in the second position to the firstposition when another push button means is moved from said firstposition to said second position, the improvement comprising:

a. a plurality of aligned apertures formed in opposite side walls ofsaid housing adjacent said first and second positions;

b. each of said push button means including a body portion within saidhousing and having axial leg portions extending from opposite sides ofsaid body portion, each of said leg portions extending through one of apair of aligned apertures for guiding said push button means duringmovement between said first and second positions.

1. A push button switch assembly comprising a housing having a plurality of aligned apertures in one side thereof; contact board means in said housing defining a plurality of electrical terminals; a plurality of aligned push button means disposed on said housing adjacent said contact board means for vertical reciprocating movement between a first position and a second position, each said push button means and contact means selectively making and breaking a circuit between respective electrical terminal pairs, each said push button means comprising a body member disposed internally of said housing and a leg member disposed outside said housing and extending upwardly through a respective housing aperture, said leg member and said aperture defining means foR preventing rotational and axial misalignment of said push button means in said housing, each said push button means further including a lower depending lip means which defines a first camming surface; and a plurality of individual discrete slide transfer means disposed in a line adjacent to one another in said housing beneath said push button means, each of said slide transfer means including an upper extending portion defining a second camming surface having a shape complementary to said first camming surface, said first camming surfaces of said push button means contacting said second camming surface of a slide transfer means and effecting lateral movement thereof when a push button means is displaced from said first position to said second position, said second camming surface of a slide transfer means contacting said first camming surface of other push button means and effecting reciprocal displacement thereof when said slide transfer means is moving laterally, whereby only one push button means can be disposed in said second position at any given time.
 2. A push button assembly comprising: a housing; contact board means in said housing defining a plurality of electrical terminals; a plurality of aligned push button means disposed in said housing adjacent said contact board means for vertical reciprocal movement between a first position and a second position, each of said push button means and contact means selectively making and breaking a circuit between respective electrical terminal pairs, a raised step means disposed internally of said housing, said step means delimiting travel of said push button means when said push button means are in said second position and thereby defining a stop means therefor; each said push button means including a surface portion cooperably disposed with respect to said raised step means; a plurality of individually discrete slide transfer means disposed in a line adjacent to one another in said housing beneath said push button means, said slide transfer means undergoing lateral movement when a single push button means is displaced from said first position to said second position, said lateral movement effecting reciprocal displacement of another single push button means from said second position to said first position, whereby only one push button means can be disposed in said second position at any given time.
 3. A push button switch assembly comprising: a housing; a planar contact board means defining one side of said housing and including a plurality of electrical terminals; a plurality of aligned push button means disposed in said housing adjacent to said contact board means for vertical reciprocating movement between a first position and a second position, said push button means comprising a body member disposed internally of said housing and an upwardly extending leg portion disposed outside said housing, said extending leg portion and said body portion of each said push button means defining a common vertical plane parallel to the plane of said contact board means, said push button means including spring-loading contact plates on said body members thereof for selectively making and breaking a circuit between respective electrical terminal pairs of said electrical contact board means; and a plurality of individual discrete slide transfer means disposed in a line adjacent to one another in said housing beneath said push button means, said slide transfer means undergoing lateral movement when a single push button means is displaced from said first position to said second position, said lateral movement effecting reciprocal displacement of another single push button means from said second position to said first position, whereby only one push button means can be disposed in said second position at any given time.
 4. A switch as defined in claim 3, wherein said housing comprises top and bottom removable casings.
 5. A push button switch assembly having a plurality of push buttons disposed for vertical reciprocating movement betweeN a raised position and a depressed position within a housing having a plurality of apertures in one side thereof, each said push button including a body member disposed within said housing, and a leg member extending upwardly through a respective housing aperture, the shape of said leg member and said housing aperture defining means for preventing rotational and axial misalignment of said push button; said body portion of each push button defining first camming surface means; and a plurality of individual blocks disposed for lateral displacement beneath the push buttons, each block including a second camming surface for cooperative interaction in a wedge-like manner with said first camming surface means of said push buttons to transfer vertical movement of one push button from its raised position to its depressed position into lateral displacement of said blocks, said lateral displacement, in turn, effecting vertical movement of any other depressed push button from its depressed position into its raised position, whereby only one push button can be disposed in a depressed position at any given time; said housing further including a raised step portion therein defining a stop means for each of said push button means when said push button means are in said depressed positions; and a contact board means defining one side of said housing and incorporating a plurality of electrical terminals; said push button means including spring-loading contact plates on said body members thereof for selectively making and breaking circuits between said respective electrical terminal pairs of said contact board means.
 6. A push button switch assembly comprising a housing having a plurality of aligned apertures in one side thereof; contact means carried on said housing and defining a plurality of electrical terminals; a plurality of aligned push button means disposed in said housing adjacnet said contact means for reciprocating movement between a first position and a second position, each said push button means and control means selectively making and breaking a circuit between respective electrical terminal pairs, each said push button means comprising a body member disposed internally of said housing and a leg member disposed outside said housing and extending through a respective housing aperture, said leg member and said aperture providing means for preventing rotational and axial misalignment of said push button means in said housing, ach said push button means further including a depending portion which defines a first camming surface means; and a plurality of individual discrete slide transfer means disposed in side-by-side relationship in said housing adjacent said push button means, each of said slide transfer means including a projecting portion defining a second camming surface means having a shape complementary to said first camming surface means, said first camming surface means of said push button means contacting said second camming surface means of said slide transfer means, movement of one of said push button means from said first positions to said second position causing at least one of said slide transfer means to move laterally, lateral movement of said slide transfer means causing any other push button means in said second position to move to said first position, whereby only one push button means can be disposed in said second position at any given time.
 7. A push button switch assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said housing includes a plurality of aligned apertures in the side opposite said one side thereof and wherein said push button means includes another leg member projecting from said body member and projecting through a respective aperture in said side opposite said one side of said housing.
 8. A push button switch assembly comprising: a housing; contact means carried one side of said housing and including a plurality of electrical terminals; a plurality of aligned pushbutton means disposed in said housing adjacent to said contact means for reciprOcating movement between a first position and a second position, each of said push button means comprising a body member disposed internally of said housing and a pair leg portions each extending from opposite ends of said body position and disposed outside said housing, said extending leg portions and said body portion of each said push button means defining a common plane parallel to the plane of said contact means, said push button means including spring-loaded contact plates on said body members thereof for selectively making and breaking a circuit between respective electrical terminal pairs of said contact means; and a pluarlity of individual discrete slide transfer means disposed in side-by-side relationship in said housing adjacent said push button means, at least one of said slide transfer means undergoing lateral movement when a single push button means is displaced from said first position to said second position, said lateral movement effecting reciprocal displacement of another single push button means from said second position to said first position, whereby only one push button means can be disposed in said second position at any given time.
 9. A push button switch assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein stop means are provided to limit the movement of said push button means to said first and second position.
 10. A push button switch assembly comprising: a housing; contact means carried on said housing a plurality of aligned push button means disposed in said housing for reciprocating movement between a first position and a second position, said push button means comprising a body member disposed internally of said housing and guide means extending from each end of said body member to guide the movement of said push button means from said first position to said second position, said push button means also including contact means that cooperate with said contact means on said housing to selectively make and break an electrical circuit; and a plurality of individual discrete slide transfer means disposed in side-by-side relationship in said housing adjacent said push button means, at least one of said slide transfer means undergoing lateral movement when a single push button means is displaced from said first position to said second position, said lateral movement effecting reciprocal displacement of another single push button means from said second position to said first position, whereby only one push button means can be disposed in said second position at any given time.
 11. A push button switch assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said guide means includes leg portions extending through apertures in said housing.
 12. A push button switch assembly of the type including a plurality of push button means carried in a housing, each of said push button means being manually movable between a first position and a second position where it completes an electrical circuit, and means within said housing for moving a push button means in the second position to the first position when another push button means is moved from said first position to said second position, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of aligned apertures formed in opposite side walls of said housing adjacent said first and second positions; b. each of said push button means including a body portion within said housing and having axial leg portions extending from opposite sides of said body portion, each of said leg portions extending through one of a pair of aligned apertures for guiding said push button means during movement between said first and second positions. 